changeadminIn ‘Chaupal Charcha’, an agriculture-centric program on Doordarshan, a farmer from Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh, Dinesh Chandra, mentions that he collected soil samples from five different places on his farm land, mixed them, and handed them over to the scientific experts at the Department of Agriculture.
He further informs that, after the analysis by experts, a Soil Health Card was given back to him, which disclosed the presence of different components in the soil.
Birendra Singh, another farmer from the village, stated that before the Soil Health Cards were introduced, farmers sprayed chemical fertilisers unrestrained, which impacted their financial situation and impaired the soil’s health. After the card, the farmers use specific fertilisers that help preserve soil nutrients and the farm’s productivity.
In the program, other farmers and experts also share the benefits of soil health cards and point out the importance of cow dung, vermicompost, and earthworms in soil and farming.
In 2015, the government of India launched the Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme applicable to all farmers in the country.
Soil samples collected from farmers are processed following standard procedures and analysed for various parameters, viz, pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, available Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and micronutrients. The information is then updated on the Soil Health Cards.
These cards inform farmers about the nutrient status of their soil and recommend the appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility. SHCs encourage judicious use of fertilisers, including secondary and micronutrients in conjunction with organic manures and bio-fertilisers.
More than 250 million (25 crore) Soil Health Cards have been issued since the inception of the program to farmers. The SHC scheme is one of the many schemes introduced in India to promote natural farming and minimise dependence on synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, thereby helping in mitigating the impacts of climate change.
India is a diverse country with varying agro-climatic conditions and farming practices; however, it has an impact on a large section of people.
Though its share in India’s GDP is less than 20 per cent, agriculture provides livelihood support to over 40 per cent of the country’s population and feeds almost 18 per cent of the world’s population.
Unfortunately, climate change presents severe and multifaceted challenges to India’s agriculture, threatening food security, rural livelihoods, and environmental sustainability. Increased temperatures, unpredictable weather patterns, and extreme events, such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves, reduce crop yields and impair soil health, while also diminishing water availability for irrigation.
Small-scale Indian farmers, especially in vulnerable regions, are hit hardest, facing reduced incomes and heightened risk of poverty. Without effective adaptation, food yields may sharply decline by mid-century, jeopardising the stability of the agricultural sector in India and access to food worldwide.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is an autonomous organisation under India’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. With presence all across India, it serves as the apex body for coordinating, guiding, and managing agricultural research and education in the country. With over 100 ICAR institutes and 70 agricultural universities, it’s one of the largest national agricultural systems globally.
In 2011, taking cognisance of the impact of climate change on Indian agriculture, ICAR launched a flagship network project, namely the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA).
The project conducts studies on the impact of climate change on agriculture, including crops, livestock, horticulture and fisheries and also develops and promotes climate-resilient technologies in agriculture.
NICRA aims strategic research on adaptation and mitigation, demonstrating technologies on farmers’ fields and creating awareness among farmers and other stakeholders. Since the launch of NICRA, a total of 2,900 varieties have been released by ICAR; out of these, 2,661 varieties have been found tolerant to one or more biotic and/or abiotic stresses.
Apart from NICRA, several schemes promoting sustainable agriculture in India have been launched, encouraging the adoption of climate-resilient, chemical-free, and resource-efficient farming practices.
In 2014, the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) was introduced to enhance agricultural productivity in rainfed areas, focusing on integrated farming, water use efficiency, soil health management, and climate resilience. NMSA includes components such as Soil Health Management (SHM), Per Drop More Crop (micro-irrigation), Rainfed Area Development, etc.
The Soil Health Management scheme is operational through State Governments under the National Project on Management of Soil Health and Fertility.
SHM promotes judicious use of chemical fertilisers, including secondary and micronutrients, in conjunction with organic manures to improve soil health, and strengthens soil and fertiliser testing facilities to provide soil test-based recommendations to farmers for soil fertility.
The Per Drop More Crop scheme aims to increase water use efficiency at the farm level through micro-irrigation technologies, i.e. drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. The Rainfed Area Development scheme promotes the Integrated Farming System (IFS) to enhance productivity and minimise risks associated with climatic variability.
In 2019, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) was launched to focus on organic farming and supporting clusters of farmers with subsidies and certification to produce chemical-free, eco-friendly crops. PKVY is being implemented in all Indian states except the North Eastern (NE) States.
To exclusively cater to India’s north-eastern region, the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) scheme is being implemented.
Both schemes, PKVY and MOVCDNER, aim to provide end-to-end support to farmers engaged in organic farming, i.e. from production to processing, certification and marketing.
Under PKVY, assistance of Rs. 31,500 per ha in 3 years is provided for the promotion of organic farming. Out of this, assistance of Rs. 15,000 per ha is provided to farmers, including small and marginal farmers, through Direct Benefit Transfer for on-farm/off–farm organic inputs.
Under MOVCDNER, assistance of Rs. 46,500/ha in 3 years is provided for the creation of a Farmers Producer Organisation, support to the farmers for organic inputs, etc. Out of this, assistance of Rs. 32500/ha is provided to farmers for off-farm/on–farm organic inputs under the scheme, including Rs. 15,000 as Direct Benefit Transfer to the farmers, including small and marginal farmers.
In 2024, the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) was launched as a standalone Centrally Sponsored Scheme to promote natural farming in India on a mission mode.
NMNF aims to promote natural farming practices to provide safe and nutritious food for all. The Mission is designed to support farmers in reducing the input cost of cultivation and dependency on externally purchased inputs. Natural Farming follows local agroecological principles rooted in local knowledge, location-specific technologies and evolves as per the local agroecology.
Additionally, the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Agroforestry and National Bamboo Mission also promote climate resilience in agriculture.
The government is implementing the Sub-Mission on Seeds and Planting Materials (SMSP) to promote the production and multiplication of quality seeds of crops, ensuring the availability of required quantities of seed to farmers.
Even space technology is being used to protect agricultural activities being impacted due to climate change. In the case of drought monitoring, a geoportal is developed in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation. The portal provides information on multiple drought indicators related to rainfall, soil moisture, crop condition, water storage, etc.
Wrapping Up
Agriculture is a state subject; therefore, many of the schemes by the Indian Government support States within the ambit of the overarching national policies.
Having said that, the government has built a robust policy framework with dedicated schemes explicitly promoting sustainable agriculture, regenerative farming, climate resilience, efficient resource management, and the empowerment of farmer groups for eco-friendly agricultural transformation.
By prioritising organic inputs, soil health, and biodiversity, natural farming techniques enhance the soil’s ability to sequester carbon, reduce emissions of nitrous oxide and methane, and offer a climate-smart pathway to sustainable food production and environmental protection.
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